Faction All The Bells Say | THR Senate

[Verity Stuyveris]

THE HIGH REPUBLIC SENATE
THEED - NABOO
[VIBES]​

Verity signaled her intention to speak shortly after the opening of the session; she had been allotted time on the legislative calendar for her newest reform legislation, the Senate Council of State Act. It was an ambitious reform, to be sure, but she rather hoped that consulting with colleagues and the Chancellor would avoid any misunderstandings around its intentions. That, and she had personally overseen copious insertions of assurances that the constitutional order of things were not upended, even in appearance, by the legislation. Perhaps that would be enough. Verity reviewed her notes and sipped her caf until she was notified that she would be speaking next.

She navigated her pod into a languid orbit around the Chancellor's podium, her appearance as immaculate as ever, her demeanor composed. "Thank you, Madam Chancellor, for recognizing me to speak. I rise this morning in favor of the passage of Senate Bill 7531, the Senate Council of State Act. As the many of you, with whom I worked to draft this legislation, will know, I am a firm believer in the power of collaboration and constructive consultation. I believe we harness the very best of what this august body has to offer when we work together where we can. Even when we do not end up reaching a consensus, I find most of the time that a better understanding of my colleagues' positions leads to more positive outcomes."

Verity clasped her hands behind her back, doing her best not to look like a looming harridan over the microphone. "To that end, I propose Senate Bill 7531. I invite you all to consult it if you haven't already, but I will summarize -- briefly, I hope." She allowed a slight smile there, fully aware of her reputation. "The bill will establish an advisory body comprised of the Chancellor, the Magister, four Senators, and the Jedi Council's liaison to the Senate, with an eye towards closer coordination where closer coordination could benefit the Senate, the Chancellor's Office, or both. Three of the Senators I propose to be the chairpersons of key Senate councils: on Defense, Justice, and Finance. The fourth Senator I propose to be the Senator for Naboo, in deference to the Republic's roots here in this ancient world, and cognizant of its connections with the Great Families. The Jedi Council's liaison would observe and advise, but not vote."

The pod continued its orbit. "Primarily, this Council would function as a sort of collaborative working group. Key committee chairs could collaborate to work out salient details and strengthen legislation ahead of its presentation on the Senate floor. The Chancellor could communicate legislative needs to align with her agenda and work constructively with. Committee chairs -- with their on-the-ground presence and contacts with relevant industry and advocacy groups -- could raise concerns and needs to the Chancellor and their fellow chairs efficiently and constructively. And functions which all-too-frequently threaten to derail the regular order of our sessions -- disruptive motions of no confidence, for instance -- can be treated with the gravity they deserve without turning this body into a spectacle."

Verity allowed her hands to unclasp. One rested delicately on the podium. The other gestured generously toward the central podium. "And all, I hasten to add, while preserving the independence and Charter-granted authority of the great institutions involved: the Chancellor's office, the Magister's office, and the High Republic Senate. The Council's authority is strictly limited; it does not place bonds upon the Chancellor; where it is empowered to act its authority is broadly advisory." She paused a moment, finally leaning forward slightly to give a sense of gravitas to her words. "Friends and colleagues, make no mistake. Stormclouds of war gather on the horizon, and some -- like myself -- believe that the deluge is already falling upon us. This bill aims to make the Republic more responsive, to give it the tools to quickly identify needs, generate solutions, appropriate funds, and otherwise address them. It does so by providing the knowledge and insights of those with the expertise around critical areas of Senate oversight -- Defense, Justice, and Finance -- as assets to the Chancellor and to each other, to make responses snappier and to give the Senate as a whole a broad base of confidence in the legislation we put forth."

Verity returned to a neutral position. "I ask for your respectful consideration of the legislation and look forward to the deliberations of my esteemed colleagues, Madam Chancellor. Accordingly, I will yield the floor and reserve the remainder of my time. Thank you."

Spoiler: OOC Note - Please read!

Hi, friends.

We're doing something a little different here. This legislation began as a THR staff effort to empower our fabulous Senate writers to do more politicking, more influence-amassing, more meetings, more everything -- and to give the ambitious among us you something to jockey for: elected Senate chair positions while waiting for the next Chancellor election. The legislation serves as a basic in-character framework and vehicle to introduce the concept.

We're starting out with 3 chair positions, and we will not be mandating that there be actual committee roleplay (although as you know I am very into that and highly encourage it) but the idea is that someone elected to a Senate Committee chair would have some kind of expertise and political influence on those matters. The Council, therefore, would be a small forum where that expertise can be shared directly with colleagues, the Chancellor, etc. The point is to create additional avenues of storytelling for those who are interested in the political game to maneuver with.

But first, you need to get enough Senators to vote for you to get into the chair! Politics!

This is an experiment, so we'll be looking at how it shakes out -- what works, what doesn't, what you want more of, etc. Please feel free to offer constructive and polite feedback in the Discord. Hateful invective and insults can be sent to me directly

THE SENATE

​

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

The quiet murmur of the chamber settled into a reverent hush as Ayumi remained utterly still, her tall, statuesque frame a study in composed elegance. The chamber's soft, diffused light played across her attire a breathtaking gown of pearlescent silver fabric that clung to her slender, athletic form before cascading into a sweeping, mermaid-like hem. The material shimmered with a subtle, liquid sheen, yet it was the intricate gold armor that captured the eye; a high, structural collar framed her long neck, flaring outward into sharp, gilded pauldrons that caught the ambient glow. From these shoulders, a translucent cape of gossamer silk, speckled with drifting flecks of gold like a captive starfield, fell in graceful, wingspan arcs around her arms and pooled silently behind her on the polished floor of the pod.

Her posture was the very definition of regal stillness, her hands resting lightly at her sides, fingers relaxed. The gown's bodice dipped into a modest V-neckline, framed by sweeping, leaf-like golden plates that traced the contours of her ribcage and hips, accentuating her lean, commanding height of six feet and two inches. Beneath the sheer cape, the silver fabric split at the thigh, revealing a glimpse of matching gold lining as the material flowed seamlessly to the ground. The entire ensemble moved with her only in the barest whisper of fabric, catching the pale Naboo sunlight filtering through the high, domed windows. As the voice of verity continued on, Ayumi's expression remained placid, her features a mask of attentive neutrality.

Her dark-honey hair, a silken curtain of straight, lustrous strands, fell freely past her waist, threaded with natural streaks of gold that caught the same light as her gown. The deep honey of her eyes, flecked with warm amber, was fixed upon the speaker, yet her gaze seemed to see through him, processing every syllable with a quiet, analytical precision. The smooth, lightly bronzed copper of her skin held a sun-warmed glow and lent her a quiet vitality that contrasted with the cool metals of her attire. Upon her chin, just below the curve of her lower lip, a small, pale nick of a scar stood out against her complexion a faint, old reminder of a past struggle, barely visible yet adding a touch of hard-won experience to her otherwise ethereal presence.

 

[Anet Raine]

Verity Stuyveris | Ayumi Pallopides | OPEN
​

Having been briefed on SB.7531, Anet Raine, Senator for Belazura, had arrived to share her thoughts. Most eagerly, it should be said.

The half-pantoran was composed. Well enough to contain her jitters - a racing heart, tingling fingers. She took a deep breath once Verity had yielded her time, claiming it for Belazura. Her pod hummed as it orbited the grand chambers. Rare for her, really.

"Madam Chancellor. Colleagues." She began. "This Act, doubtless to me, will improve our channels of communication and strengthen the democratization of power. Highest praises to the thoughtful authorship. Truly..." Naturally, there was a--

"However, I am concerned by two points in particular." There it was. "First, the guaranteed seat for the Senator for Naboo. Second, the Jedi Order's liaison. I will explain both in order."

Anet took a sip of her water, eyes snapping down at the text on her datapad. "First, Naboo. The High Republic represents more than 130 systems." She looked up.

"Our expansion, since the incorporation of our government, has been rapid. Each time new worlds are added, Naboo's singular importance grows less and less relevant. I do not believe there is any objective metric by which Naboo can be measured as essential, other than as our capital complex. Important, yes, but must that award Naboo guaranteed representation on this Council? If so, then I propose Naboo's chair be advisory and non-voting. Anything less, in this Senator's perspective, is an act of awarding exceptionalism."

She cleared her throat and took another sip. There was a slight pause as she moved on to the next subject. One based on reports she had gathered, rumors collected at spaceports, and her own, private intelligence gathering.

"Second, I am most concerned that this body would even consider granting the Jedi Order more political representation," she nearly scoffed, "given recent events. Should the rump body of the Jedi Council, who so spectacularly failed to govern its own members, be granted such influence over the executive functions of our government, even in a confined capacity? Non-voting is not the limiter we imagine it to be. There is power, significant power in advisory. To be a voice in that room, even an ear, is a very powerful thing... especially for one who can read and influence minds."

She leaned across her pod, exhaling. "This provision reads to me as a compromise made behind closed doors - an imagined necessity, if you will. I believe the Jedi Order should spend less time focused on our politics, and more time on its own internal affairs, or hunting down its missing Jedi. I suggest patience. Exclude the Jedi Order for now, and revisit the inclusion at a later date, to see how the Jedi Order resolves their ongoing crisis."

She waved her hand over the datapad, dismissing the readout.

"My time is yielded."

 

[Lex]

Verity Stuyveris / Ayumi Pallopides / Anet Raine

The stylus rested on his lips. He had gotten word from Verity on the way up that she had something up her sleeve. He assumed it was some kind of resolution for the Sith war, but that didn't seem to be quite it.

A deep breath, a poor habit, tried to still his nerves. While parts of Nubia had calmed down in recent weeks there was still a lingering anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. They were still on the border. They still had shipyards. Republican expansion into the Corellian sector had alleviated some of the pressure, but how could someone draw easier breaths at the cost of someone else's?

The legislation as it had been written last time hadn't bothered him, and neither did this version of it. A sentiment he didn't seem to share with the delegation from Belazura who wanted Naboo and the Jedi out.

A curious glance fired to the side and was met by the equally surprised aide by his side. She raised a good point, of course. Rumors of the Jedi fracturing weren't exactly inviting a lot of faith, pun intended, but neither was the idea of leaving them out entirely.

Lex's cheeks puffed up with a sigh before he clicked the button to hover and speak.

"Alexander Vreen. Nubia." He introduced himself. "I am inclined to agree about the guaranteed spot for Naboo, to an extent." Lex continued. "However, unlike the representative from Belazura I am more inclined to say the Jedi do have a spot on the board — should they even accept it."

"We're on the brink of fighting a war against whack-jobs with lightning hands and a religion that calls for our destruction. If the so-called 'Covenant' attacks it will be Belazura's people who fall next in line after mine. So if having an inept Jedi Order at hand for advice is the difference that makes it so Nubia never falls in the first place I'd rather take my chances with an inept Order than leave out their potential expertise on how to handle these types of questions."

"That's all." Lex's podium floated back to its station.

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique had opened the session by highlighting certain economic movements and allocation of resources within the High Republic. Such things wouldn't escape the notice of the various member worlds affected, and none of them were so great as to require legislation. All established authorities and reallocations within the jurisdiction of those involved. There had been times when the Senate claimed not to be informed of the Chancellor's actions that might have contributed to more... kinetic circumstances. Dominique was nothing if not receptive to feedback, and so she deign to let them know of these hitherto minor changes and that there was no nefarious purpose.

Well, nefarious purpose was subjective. None toward the Republic. Couldn't say how a hostile party might view them.

After all, just because the Chancellor admitted to certain movements did not mean she admitted to the full inventory or characteristics of things moved. Said hostile parties didn't need the surprise spoiled.

It'd been a trifle that'd preceded Verity stepping forward to address the chamber.

Once the Bill was proposed by Verity Stuyveris , Dominique waited for Senators to speak their mind on the proposal. If she rushed to the fore it might stifle discussion if they believed she might be in opposition. Of course, those careful not to upset her might hold their tongue in anticipation for her address. The political Game was like that. No one could ever be entirely certain whether action or inaction was the better part of valor. Usually necessitated a case-by-case determination.

Anet Raine was one of the first to speak. Dominique regarded the half-Pantoran with the same neutrality she'd held since the Bill's introduction. Lex followed-up with partial support of Anet's concerns. Whether the chamber felt Naboo still had too much influence was for the chamber to figure out. That was something Dominique would not presently seek to tip the scales in whatever her personal opinion might be. Neither Sibylla Abrantes nor Aurelian Veruna required her to be their White Knight; though if they had concerns, her ear was always open.

"It is well that the Senate be mindful of the Jedi Order, or Jedi practitioners, within our borders. That their actions may be contentious is to be expected. As is their adherence to Republic and local Laws. However, much like one world may not share in the decisions of another, we remain part of a larger body that seeks to face the challenges ahead. The Jedi Order is another member of this union. One that eschews ingraining itself in our political bodies, but whose members might play pivotal roles against certain hostile parties that harry our borders this very day -- and will likely seek to test our resolve in the none too distant future."

"As the Charter states this Republic might call upon them to serve in a crisis, it seems prudent that a representative be kept near at hand. Perhaps even one that can help avoid needless cultural clauses and misunderstandings with any roaming member of the Order."

After all, they could exclude them from the Council and Dominique would still end up approaching them personally if or when the time was right. It was premature to drop the fact she already did so. A move she'd made after the Senate had nearly set them all on a collision course in a prior session. Not that it had obviously kept them from a time-honored tradition of fracturing, regardless. Well, they'd do what they could.

Verity Stuyveris | Ayumi Pallopides | Anet Raine | Lex | Open​

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Dominique Vexx

Listening to the bills and some of the others brought a small eyebrow up while she went over it and. A small shrug, to say the jedi shouldn't be involved was premature. Their wisdom could be good for insight if only to be a counter so you can defend and be able to know that an idea was good or better to go with. It was also interesting the seat for whoever was representing Naboo. An honor for sure but Naboo had a few others in the senate that could do it. Still she remained therre for the moment while going over it and listening to Dominique about it. 'Agreed' she was all for most of it but if they could then she was all for the vote to happen.

 

[Vaerelyn Thorne]

​

Location: Senate Building, Theeds, Naboo
Objective: Attend Senate session, find place to contribute
Outfit: Cream-color Dress
Tag: Open

The Senate rotunda was louder than any forest. Not merely in sound, though there was certainly enough of that. Hundreds of conversations overlapped beneath the vaulted ceiling, repulsorlift pods drifted with measured precision, aides hurried along the galleries carrying datapads full of amendments and projections, and the constant murmur of governance seemed to take on a life of its own.

To Vaerelyn Thorne, the chamber felt almost alive. She stood quietly within the pod assigned to Mokk VIII, both hands resting lightly upon its polished railing. The cream and pale-gold fabrics of her formal Gorathi attire flowed softly in the climate-controlled air, the delicate cape catching the chamber lights as though woven from dawn itself. Gold jewelry rested modestly at her neck and wrists, while the small horns that curved back from her brow framed an expression of thoughtful restraint rather than awe.

The city beyond the Senate had overwhelmed her senses. The Senate itself overwhelmed something deeper. Every voice carried emotion. Hope. Ambition. Frustration. Pride. Fear. Her training as a Fieldseer had taught her to let emotions wash over her without becoming her own. Here, however, that lesson demanded every ounce of discipline she possessed. She inhaled slowly, fingertips brushing the small seed-vial pendant hidden beneath the folds of her gown.

Root yourself.

The familiar mantra settled her. The debate unfolding before the Assembly was not one that inspired immediate certainty. Reforming the Senate's internal structure by restoring committee leadership and chair positions held undeniable merit. A legislature could not cultivate thoughtful policy if every issue had to reach the entire Assembly before experts had properly examined it.

Yet concentrating influence always carried its own risks. The Great Weave was strongest when no single strand bore all the weight. Vaerelyn found herself agreeing with arguments from multiple sides without fully embracing any of them. Experience had taught her that the first harvest was rarely the best indicator of a season. Better to observe the soil before deciding what should be planted. Her luminous amber eyes drifted across the gathered senators instead.

Some carried themselves with practiced confidence, speaking as though born for these halls. Others possessed a quieter gravity that required no raised voice to command attention. She watched how they listened as much as how they spoke.

If the legislation succeeded, someone would inevitably occupy the proposed chairs. Not simply politicians. Gardeners. Or butchers. Committee leadership could nurture cooperation just as easily as cultivate division. She quietly wondered which of the assembled senators possessed enough patience to listen before speaking. Which valued expertise over spectacle. Which understood stewardship rather than ownership.

Several possibilities came to mind. Several others she silently hoped would never seek such responsibility. As for herself...

A faint smile touched her lips. She had served as senator for scarcely enough time to memorize every face in the chamber, let alone imagine presiding over one of its committees. Mokk VIII had not sent her here to accumulate titles. The Root Council had entrusted her with something far simpler—and infinitely more difficult. Listen. Learn. Speak only when there was something worth saying.

For now, she intended to honor that trust. The discussion continued around her while Senator Vaerelyn Thorne remained where she was, quietly studying the currents of the Republic before stepping into them herself.

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

Verity's eyebrows knitted together at the suggestion of cutting the Senator for Naboo from the Council of State.

Her eyes flickered across to the Naboo pod where Aurelian Veruna typically perched. Her impatience with the man was all but reflexive at this point, and her disdain for his laissez-faire approach to the politics of personal destruction was matched, it seemed, only by his contempt for her for reasons that she could not quite piece together.

Nevertheless, she activated her microphone.

"Madam Chancellor I appreciate the comments from my colleagues, the honorable members from Nubia and Belazura, though I cannot agree." This might have come as a surprise for those who expected their political leaders to play tit-for-tat games on the political stage. "There is a reason that Naboo occupies a privileged position in the government; it is not because the High Republic operates on favoritism. It is not, certainly, the reason that I include it in this legislation."

She paused a moment to allow her statement to register. She wanted to be sure that when her speech was clipped for social media and the press it would be difficult to take out of context. "Rather, my inclusion of the Senator for Naboo is threefold. First, Naboo represents the High Republic's origins on this world, growing from the strong foundational roots of the Royal Naboo Republic. Naboo is -- in intention and, I believe, in reality -- in large part a moral center of our Republic."

She flexed her fingers and grasped the edge of the podium. "Second, by virtue of the nexus of Naboo's place as capital of our Republic and the cultural nexus of the Great Houses and its Voice, the Senator for Naboo plays a critical role in representing not just the constituents of Naboo but the interests and values of the Great Houses. Whatever any member may think of hereditary privilege, and I recognize reasonable minds may differ, our system of government recognizes the Great Houses as valued contributors to the political discourse of our nation."

Verity glanced up, her wide, open, genuine blue gaze meeting the camera placidly floating in front of her. "And finally, on a personal note, I genuinely value the contributions of my esteemed colleague, the honorable member for Naboo. Time and time again, he has proven a reliable leader, a staunch defender of the Republic, and a measured voice on difficult political questions. For all these reasons, I rise in opposite to the motion to exclude the Senator for Naboo from the Council."

She allowed a beat. "For similar reasons, I oppose the motion to exclude the Jedi Order's representative. The Jedi are non-voting members. I see no harm in their not being present, especially when -- without formal ties between the Jedi and other institutions of the High Republic -- the opportunity for thoughtful exchanges of information and views is invaluable. Thank you, Madam Chancellor, I yield and reserve the remainder of my time."

Aurelian Veruna | Dominique Vexx | Ayumi Pallopides | Lex | Anet Raine | Vaerelyn Thorne
​

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

"I would second both motioned from Senator Stuyveris there is much one can say but Naboo is an important part of the Republic and its proceedings as are the jedi. Even if they do not wish political aims their wisdom can be beneficial to see outside ones view." Ayumi spoke and remained there, she had listened to the others and honestly Denon used its force users wisdom and some experiences. It was more helpful and when they engineerred or made equipment for them to use it gave a strong metric. She didn't need a large speech, she mostly looked at Dominique and bowed her head before turning back to Verity and offering the same.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Verity Stuyveris | Ayumi Pallopides | Dominique Vexx | Lex | Anet Raine | Vaerelyn Thorne

Aurelian stalked through the grand corridors of the Senate rotunda. He paused just outside Senator Stuyveris' pod room, looking up at the broad holoscreens mounted on the wall. Verity's sharp voice carried through the speakers, her rebuttal playing in full frame as her repulsor pod began its smooth descent back toward its docking bay.

Stepping past the threshold of the pod room, Aurelian approached Verity's primary aide. He casually slid a high-value credit chip across the gleaming desk, the metal tapping softly against the surface. "I require a brief word," he declared.

The heavy doors slid open, revealing the back of the lanky Senator. Across the vast chamber, Ayumi's voice was just winding down, offering her own backing for the measure. Aurelian reached up, clicking the microphone pinned to his shirt collar.

"I offer my full support to Senator Stuyveris on all counts, particularly regarding Naboo retaining its rightful seat on this council."

Securing power for Naboo was the goal. But publicly backing that cause from the pod of a Senator who was actively fighting for it? That would be scandalous. And the ensuing chaos was entirely worth it.

Releasing the microphone button, Aurelian dropped into the cushioned seat inside her pod, stretching his legs out long. "Great job," he said smoothly, leaning back and gazing out at the rising murmur of the gossiping Senate.

​

 

[Vaerelyn Thorne]

​

Location: Senate Building, Theeds, Naboo
Objective: Attend Senate session, find place to contribute
Outfit: Cream-color Dress
Tag: Verity Stuyveris | Ayumi Pallopides | Aurelian Veruna | Dominique Vexx | Anet Raine | Lex

The Senate continued its measured rhythm, voices rising and falling as motions were proposed, defended, and seconded. Vaerelyn remained standing within Mokk VIII's assigned pod, her hands folded loosely before her. Though the discussion had narrowed to the particulars of Naboo's place and the Jedi's advisory role, she found herself paying less attention to the arguments themselves than to those making them.

Politics, she was beginning to realize, was much like tending unfamiliar soil. One learned as much by observing the gardener as by studying the harvest. Her luminous gaze settled once more upon Senator Verity Stuyveris.

The woman's defense of Naboo had not relied upon favoritism or personal grievance, despite clearly possessing both history and opportunity to indulge in either. Instead, she had built her position carefully, each point supporting the next until her conclusion seemed less an opinion than the natural flowering of reason. It reminded Vaerelyn of the elders who had presided over disputes between Root Circles. They had never begun with what they desired the outcome to be. They began with principles, trusting the conclusion to emerge from them. There is wisdom there, she thought quietly. If she hoped to become an effective senator, there were certainly worse examples to emulate.

Her attention shifted toward Senator Ayumi Pallopides. The Denonian had spoken only briefly, yet with purpose. She had not sought to outshine the previous speaker nor repeat every argument already made. Instead, she had simply reinforced what she believed to be true before yielding the floor. There was confidence in such restraint. Vaerelyn appreciated those who understood that conviction did not always require volume.

Another woman whose example deserved careful observation. The young Gorathi found herself wondering if, given enough time, either senator might tolerate questions from an inexperienced representative of a quiet farming world. She had much to learn of procedure, negotiation, and the subtle currents that flowed beneath the chamber's polished decorum.

Then came King Aurelian Veruna. Vaerelyn blinked once as the Naboo monarch appeared not within his own pod, but inside Senator Stuyveris'. A small crease formed between her brows. The declaration of support itself struck her as genuine enough. If he truly believed Senator Stuyveris had argued well, then voicing that agreement seemed commendable. Yet his chosen method...

She watched the murmurs ripple outward through the rotunda like stones cast into still water. On Gorath's Haven, such a gesture would have been interpreted less as support than as drawing attention away from the harvest to admire the gardener. Perhaps that had not been his intent. Perhaps, in these halls, such displays carried meanings she had yet to understand. She reminded herself not to judge too quickly.

There were undoubtedly customs within the Senate that appeared strange to someone raised among grain terraces and orchard paths. It would be unfair to mistake unfamiliarity for impropriety. Even so, she found herself uncertain whether the King's theatrics had strengthened Senator Stuyveris' position or simply ensured that every eye remained fixed upon Naboo. The distinction, she suspected, mattered.

Vaerelyn's fingers unconsciously found the small seed-vial pendant resting beneath her sash, its familiar weight anchoring her thoughts. The debate continued around her, and for now she was content to remain silent. Each exchange revealed another thread in the intricate weave of the Republic. She had come to cultivate understanding before influence. Today, the listening still held greater value than the speaking.

 

[Eharl Sarn]

​

Senate Hall
Items: x
Verity Stuyveris Ayumi Pallopides Vaerelyn Thorne Aurelian Veruna Dominique Vexx Lex Anet Raine

​

Senator Sarn listened quietly as the chamber came alive with debate. The long slender fingers of the Ithorian's broad hands folded before him while one speaker after another laid bare their convictions. The Senator for Belazura spoke firmly against both a Jedi liaison and Naboo's place within the proposed council. Across the chamber, the Senator for Nubia favored retaining the Jedi representative, though he agreed that Naboo ought not receive a permanent seat among the Council Seat's leadership.

The Ithorian considered each argument carefully. His first duty had always been to Enarc, yet it was no secret that he had long stood beside Naboo, just as he had long supported the Jedi Order's place within the Republic. Those beliefs had not been formed lightly, nor abandoned easily. Hearing Verity articulate the need for closer coordination, followed by Dominique's own support, only strengthened the quiet certainty already taking root within him.

Yes... especially now.

These were not peaceful times that much had been evident. The Sith gathered beyond the Republic's borders, and hesitation had become a luxury the Senate could scarcely afford.

A faint murmur swept through the chamber as the King of Naboo was noticed lending his support from Senator Stuyveris's pod. The unusual sight drew curious glances from more than a few senators, and Eharl found himself reflecting on how telling such solidarity truly was.

With a harrum of a hum, Sarn gave a nod, so when his turn came, the Ithorian inclined his great head before speaking.

"The Senator from Enarc lends his support to the motion as presented. At a time when our borders grow increasingly uncertain, and threats continue to mount beyond them, greater cooperation between the Republic's institutions is a prudent course. If honorable senators wish to see additional portfolios represented, then I would encourage them to seek election as Chairs of Defense, Finance, or Justice, where their expertise may best serve us all. Should further representation prove necessary in time, this Senate retains the authority to establish additional committee chairs through an Act of the Senate."

He offered a measured nod around the chamber.

"Today, however, the Republic requires action. Let us not delay what may strengthen it."

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

LOCATION

THE SENATE CHAMBER

DRUCKENWELL POD

MIDMORNING

♫ CLAIRE'S FIX — JEFF BEAL

x

x

Not for the first time, the Senator for Druckenwell was forced to rely on her natural reserve and practiced poise, for without it there was every chance that she might have startled forward, tumbled over the lectern, and plummeted to her death at the bowels of the Senate chamber at the unexpected resonance of Aurelian Veruna 's voice amplified by the Senate's speaker system and also the same voice, a split-second before, over her shoulder. What the holocameras would have caught was a slight widening of the Senator's glacial blue eyes followed immediately by a smile that would come across as fond.

Verity touched her controls once more. "I am heartened, but not surprised, to learn that the honorable gentleman from Naboo agrees with my analysis," she said. "And both honored and pleased to count my honorable friend the member for Enarc among supporters of this bill. His wisdom gives me some comfort that this reform is well-founded. I yield and reserve the remainder of my time, Madam Chancellor."

She turned as murmuring spread outward like ripples after a dropped stone. Verity settled in one of the seats opposite Aurelian, settling her datapad on her knees. "Your Majesty. You certainly know how to make an entrance. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" She smiled across the pod even though her cheek threatened to twitch.

The holocameras, after all, were still orbiting as Senate business proceeded, at least one still focused on the Druckenwell pod.

"Were you expecting me to say something else, Senator Veruna?" Verity asked pleasantly, through her smile. Had he come to intimidate her, or was he just passing by on his way to more entertaining and engaging business. Well, if you could call counting the seed pearls on the Voice of the Houses' dress by touch business -- which Verity suspected Veruna would. "Believe what you will, but have you ever considered that I might not be an enemy? Ah-ah -- don't forget to smile, Senator, you wouldn't like to be the subject of gossip, hm?"

x

x

WITH

Aurelian Veruna • Eharl Sarn • Anet Raine • Lex • Vaerelyn Thorne • Ayumi Pallopides • Dominique Vexx

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

"Ohhh exciting" Ayumi remained in her pod as she was listening to the other senator, watching the holo that had moved from her to focus on Verity and... the King in her pod. Oh my... her thoughts racing. "This is better then zeltrons in love, if he rips his shirt off then we make it rain." She said it to no one in the pod. The biot bodyguard Zahira there with her and quiet as she slipped. "Senator, eat some Denonite Pie, you aren't yourself when you are hungry." Zahira looked at her and Ayumi laughed a little to herself. "Zahira you have to understand, this is where the tax dollars for their worlds go to, these are the days of our High Republic lives. You can't find better anywhere else." The biot looked at her and Ayumi slipped a slice of the pie as she folded it and took a bite.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Verity Stuyveris | Ayumi Pallopides | Eharl Sarn | Anet Raine | Lex | Dominique Vexx | Vaerelyn Thorne

Aurelian kept his smile fixed for the hovering holocameras as Verity wrapped up her speech. The murmurs rippling through the Senate chamber were music to his ears. Chaos was already brewing, exactly as intended. It would have been a tragedy to let her walk away from this ambitious piece of legislation squeaky clean.

He let out a slow, dramatic sigh at her question, shifting comfortably in the plush pod seat. "It was getting unbearable all the way up there in my usual pod," he admitted softly, flashing a conspiratorial glance. "Tedious speeches like this are best spent building meaningful relationships. Take the delegation from Plooriod III, for instance. We've been having the most fascinating exchanges today."

His gaze locked onto hers, filled with effortless confidence. "To answer your question, no, I wasn't expecting you to say anything different. In fact, I am thoroughly pleased you welcomed my support. And an enemy? Never, Senator. I would never consider you an enemy."

Right on cue, the pod for Plooriod III detached from the far gallery and drifted into the center of the rotunda, signaling to speak. The Plooriod representative opened his mic, proposing a formal amendment to SB 7531: replacing the designated seat for the Senator of Naboo with a permanent seat for the Sovereign of Naboo, the true voice of the Republic's home.

Aurelian's grin widened. He leaned slightly toward Verity, his voice dropping to a smooth, mocking murmur. "I relish the opportunity to work alongside you on this council, Senator. After all, someone has to keep your mediocre rise to power in check."

​

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

LOCATION

THE SENATE CHAMBER

DRUCKENWELL POD

MIDMORNING

♫ YOU'RE GONNA LOVE TOMORROW — STEPHEN SONDHEIM

x

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Verity was unsurprised to find that Aurelian Veruna was perfectly willing to accept the olive branch she offered, only to bash her over the head with it once it was in his grasp. Still, her poise did not falter, her smile remaining fixed. "Not for the first time, Senator, you've got the wrong end of the stick. I seek power in service of reform, not power for its own sake. But some things are so weighty that they can only be shifted with mighty levers." Her gaze held his for a beat of silence. "Levers that are, for the moment, beyond my reach."

She rose and poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher, pausing to watch her colleagues continue the business of her bill. Her eyes settled on Ayumi Pallopides who seemed to be enjoying the circumstances of this contrived meeting too much for Verity's liking. She raised a brow but said nothing, instead lifting the glass to her lips before turning back to Aurelian, just in time to see him tap something on his datapad. Something about the set of his jaw made her think ambushing her in her pod was only his opening gambit. Something else was coming.

And as usual, Verity Stuyveris was correct.

When the Senator from Plooriod III rose to offer his amendment, her expression softened from fixed smile into something more thoughtful. She made a mental note; Plooriod III was in Veruna's pocket. Frustrating as it was, it was a data point she could make work for her.

The more immediate matter was the King of Naboo himself. Veruna picked his moments well, Verity thought; she couldn't even be angry, really. It was the kind of power play that she often wished she was base and craven enough to attempt. Of course it would have left her feeling soiled and in desperate need of a hot shower, but it was a means of getting things done. As ever, Veruna's motivations were crude, but his execution was elegant. She supposed there was a metaphor there for the outwardly polished King of Naboo.

The long and short of it was that Verity could not easily come out in immediate opposition to the proposal now after having so glowingly -- and publicly -- endorsed Veruna. Another olive branch, another knot on the head. Would she ever learn? But nor would she allow herself to be maneuvered into turning a seat on an important advisory council into some kind of royal prerogative. She would wait, watch, and count.

And strategize.

The Druckenwell Senator sank into a seat in the pod, not opposite Veruna this time but adjacent. She raised her glass in a silent toast to him.

"Well played, Senator."

Her smile warmed by an almost imperceptible degree.

"It pains me to hear that you've found my rise to power unsatisfactory thus far. But don't worry. You're gonna love tomorrow."

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WITH

Aurelian Veruna • Eharl Sarn • Anet Raine • Lex • Vaerelyn Thorne • Ayumi Pallopides • Dominique Vexx

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Verity Stuyveris | Ayumi Pallopides

Aurelian feigned wide-eyed anticipation, resting a cheek in his palm as he looked over at her. "Tomorrow?" he said, his voice laced with theatrical intrigue. "You tease, Senator. I simply cannot wait to see what thrilling chapter of administrative efficiency you have planned for us next. Truly, working so closely alongside you is going to be an absolute dream."

Amber eyes swept across the grand expanse of the rotunda. Dozens of pods had drifted closer, their occupants leaning over railings, whispering behind datapads, and pointing toward Druckenwell's floating platform. He caught every sharp glance and muted jaw-drop, soaking in the quiet uproar his little stunt had orchestrated. Political theater was dead without an audience, and today's house was packed.

He turned back to Verity, his tone shifting into something more genuinely curious. "I do have to ask, though. What sort of grand reform are you actually chasing here? Are you implying you don't enjoy watching hundreds of overly dressed politicians talk in endless circles while achieving absolutely nothing?"

A grin spread across his face as he gestured vaguely toward the Senate floor. "You could take a lesson from my playbook, Stuyveris. Skip the consensus-building. Do whatever you want, whenever you want, and let the bureaucrats whine about the consequences after the fact. Things move remarkably fast when you stop caring for their opinions."

Leaning closer, Aurelian fixed her with a penetrating stare. "So tell me. Stripped of all the high-minded rhetoric and polished bills, what is it you actually want out of all this?"

​

 

[Anet Raine]

Verity Stuyveris | Ayumi Pallopides | Lex | Vaerelyn Thorne | Eharl Sarn | Aurelian Veruna | Dominique Vexx
​

Anet sighed, taking a seat again as her pod drifted back to the periphery. She had said her piece, and interestingly received more support than she expected from the Senator for Nubia. Perhaps they would have to talk privately at some point.

Though her eyes remained locked on Miss Druckenwell. If it looked and smelled like banthashit... Well...

Perhaps that was the more prudent conversation to have.

She leaned into her aide's ear, whispering. "Reach out to Stuyveris' office. I think it's time I start socializing with my colleagues."

The aide promptly swiped her datapad and went to work.

In the meantime, Anet felt she had made enough of an effort to signal her stance to other Populists in the Senate. Sometimes it took standing in the open and ringing a bell.

 

[Dominique Vexx]

"Order." Dominique had stood silently for a time as the murmurs went on, but less than a minute had gone by before she tolled the bell. "The Chamber will come to order," she intoned patiently as the various Senators shifted and glanced at one another. Conversation slowly settled once more in the wake of another of Aurelian's political machinations.

"If there is a formal amendment to be proposed to Senator Stuyveris' legislation I expect it to be submitted in writing so that a Second may support it coming to vote. Otherwise, if there is no such Motion or Second, barring further debate on this matter, we will proceed to a Vote." The Chancellor would give those in attendance a last opportunity to make their will known if it was not entirely in alignment with Verity's proposal.

She certainly seemed to have garnered enough support for the idea, and since they'd discussed this beforehand Dominique herself was not opposed. It gave those in the Senator more hands-on involvement. Structure. If they wished to take on some of the burden before they occupied everyone's time with a formal session who was Dominique to decline their offer?

Verity Stuyveris | Aurelian Veruna | Ayumi Pallopides | Lex | Vaerelyn Thorne | Eharl Sarn | Anet Raine​

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

LOCATION

THE SENATE CHAMBER

DRUCKENWELL POD

MORNING

♫ WE SHALL GO TO WAR — RUPERT GREGSON-WILLIAMS

x

x

The Senator for Druckenwell gazed at Aurelian with wide, frank eyes.

"Senator Veruna," she began quietly. "I simply want what all of us want." Verity tipped her coiffed golden head toward the chamber at large and the colleagues assembled within it, as if to say, broadly, all of them out there .The gesture did a lot of heavy lifting, because what did all of them have in common, really, other than their title? Some were corrupt and some were earnest. Some were able and some were bumbling. Some were imperious and some sought consensus. Some were outwardly ambitious and some were happy to play a supporting role.

Six months ago Verity might have meant a better, stronger Republic -- but she knew better now. Many of her colleagues had an eye for the main chance and pushed for their own benefit, or to enrich their worlds or their shareholders, and benefit to the Republic was strictly incidental.

She set her drink down, carefully adjusting it, letting the moment extend before her eyes returned to Aurelian's. "I want influence," she conceded at last. "Authority, if I can earn it. But to what end?" Verity allowed her gaze to extend beyond him into the Senate rotunda, a thoughtful smile stealing across her lips. "I want a Republic with institutions strong enough to survive the people who occupy them and capable of acting before catastrophe narrows our choices."

"The playbooks available to us are quite different, you know," Verity said. "And not just because of a difference in principles. You are the King of Naboo as well as a Senator. I am one voice among many hundreds. Your kingship and Naboo's particular relationship with the High Republic and its history gives you certain mechanisms that are not available to mere Senators. I am surprised to hear you speak ill of consensus-building, when that is precisely how you managed to nearly single-handedly defeat my diplomatic reform legislation."

Her blue eyes held no heat, no blame, no bitterness as they studied him. Of course, she had withdrawn the legislation before giving Aurelian the satisfaction of a decisive floor vote, but they both knew he had won the day, whatever the outcome. She still wondered why. The mystery of who coordinated the opposition and how had been solved after some aggressive inquiry; his underlying motive remained unclear.

"It can come in handy, I'm sure you'd concede. And the consensus I've built around other matters may yet serve interests we happen, for once, to share. But to simply do as one pleases and leave the consequences to others? No, Senator, that kind of privilege is open to very few. You, as King of Naboo. And precious few others." Glacial eyes flicked to the central podium, where Dominique Vexx was speaking. "Besides, you would try to stop me, and I have no interest in conducting a public battle of wills through the press and the court of public opinion -- not when a simple vote tally will serve just as well."

"But what I want, really? I want to be in the room when decisions are made. You will understand, I think, that the decision itself, important as it may be, sometimes matters no more than who possessed the authority to make it -- and who did not."

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WITH

Aurelian Veruna